How Your Travel Choice Impacts the Planet: Car, Tent, Van or Plane?

The way you travel doesn’t just shape your experience it also affects your environmental impact. To help you make a more informed choice, let’s break down the carbon footprint of four popular travel options. Whether you're a minimalist camper or a comfort-loving vanlifer, here’s how your setup stacks up in terms of emissions.

A Real-World Example: Brussels to Biarritz

Imagine you’re heading off on a 7-day road trip from Brussels to Biarritz a scenic route that covers about 1,800 km round trip. You cruise at an average speed of 90 km/h, soaking up views of vineyards, forests, and coastlines along the way.

Now let’s compare four common travel methods:

What Does This Mean? Choosing how you travel is more than just a matter of cost or speed it’s a reflection of your values. By camping with a rooftop tent or driving a car, you can cut emissions by up to 40% compared to flying. Every bit counts, especially as more of us aim to explore the world without leaving a heavy footprint behind.

Want to Check Your Own Trip? Use this simple carbon calculator to estimate emissions based on your route and mode of transport: